Maramures,
abode of culture and civilisation, which has carved in wood its own history, is the place where
traditions, popular garb and art are kept like nowhere else in Romania. Maramures is a huge open
air museum, and the daily life of the Maramures village is a real return in time.
The Wooden Churches - popular art jewels - are met in almost every village. Eight of those belong
to the UNESCO patrimony and some hold absolute records: the highest wooden building - the church
of Barsana Monastery 62m height, the oldest wooden church - the church from Ieud 1364.
The Maramuresan Gate genuine rustic triumphal arch, was in the past the apanage of the noble families.
According to the tradition, the gate is the barrier against the evil, the element that marks the
sacred universe of the household. Its decorating elements have not only an aesthetically purpose,
but they are also symbols with strong roots in the Christian and Pre Christian culture. The string
(rope) - the spiral symbolising the striving for the heights, the rosette - symbol of the sun as
an essential element of life, the tree of life - symbol of the eternal life, the snake, with its
well known protecting role, are just a few of the elements mostly met in the maramuresan gates sculpture.
Maramures is a region that kept along the history the customs connected to work, life and celebration.
Objects made of wood artistically decorated join all the important moments of life, but the most
fascinating are the crosses, elements of communication between the world of alive and the one of
the dead. The Merry Cemetery from Sapanta, creation of the popular artist Ioan Patras, is gathering
some hundreds of speaking crosses. Using a text where the self irony interweaves the
drama, they relate in a few phrases the story of the deceased.
The traditional professions like woven, wood carving, wood and glass painting are practised successfully
and are transmitted from generation to generation.
The maramuresan music that joins all the happy moments of life is noticed by its rhythm and its
vitality.
The popular garb is worn day by day not only on holidays, as in other places in Romania. The holidays
are the moments when the maramuresan village bursts out of music and good temper and
they are not few along the year: the Winter Holidays, the Easter, Tinjaua, the Maramuresan Sheep
fold, and of course, weddings and the christenings. In a few minutes, everybody is standing, and
pairs start turning, faster and faster, on the rhythm imposed by the "ceterasi" (local
violin singers), exceptional artists, present at any traditional party.
Welcome to the unique atmosphere of the maramuresan village!!!